BIOBOOST

Biomass based energy intermediates boosting biofuel production

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Increasing the share of biomass for renewable energy in Europe demands conversion pathways which are economic, flexible in feedstock and energy efficient. The BioBoost project concentrates on dry and wet residual biomass and wastes as feedstock for de-central conversion by fast pyrolysis, catalytic pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonisation to the intermediate energy carriers oil, coal or slurry. Based on straw the energy density increases from 2 to 20-31 GJ/m3, enabling central GW scale gasification plants for biofuel production. The catalytic pyrolysis reduces oxygenates in the oil to 13% enabling power and refinery applications. The fast pyrolysis and HTC processes of demo-size (0.5-1 t/h) are optimized for feedstock flexibility, yield, quality and further upscaling is studied. A logistic model for feedstock supply and connection of de-central with central conversion is set up and validated allowing the determination of costs, the number and location of de-central and central sites. Techno/economic and environmental assessment of the value chain supports the optimisation of products and processes. Application of energy carriers is investigated in existing and coming applications of heat and power production, synthetic fuels&chemicals and as biocrude for refineries. Promising pathways will be demonstrated over the whole chain. A market implementation scheme of ramping up energy carrier production and subsequent phase in of large scale gasification is developed regarding optimal technical and economic performance. Separation of nutrients and chemicals further increase economics. Seven industrial companies, three of which SME and six R&D institutions from 7 European countries cover expertise along the complete chain: Feedstock, conversion processes, separation and upgrading, transport & logistics, end usage and value chain assessment. Conversion plants in demonstration size will enable the proof of concept and further up-scaling to commercial size.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU-funded scientists are converting residual biomass into energy carriers for producing high-quality fuels and chemicals as well as electricity and heat.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Using biomass as an energy source can lower the EU's external energy dependence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the challenge is to prove that biomass energy production is technically viable, environmentally sustainable and cost competitive at commercial scales.

EU-funded scientists working on the project http://www.bioboost.eu/home.php (BIOBOOST) (Biomass based energy intermediates boosting biofuel production) are developing conversion methods to produce bio oil, coal or slurry from biomass. The team is exploring primarily decentralised conversion methods and emphasising cost effectiveness, feedstock flexibility and energy efficiency.

BIOBOOST is studying the conversion of dry and wet residual biomass and waste to intermediate energy carriers by fast pyrolysis, catalytic pyrolysis (CP) and hydrothermal carbonisation (HC). The project aims to perform techno-economic, social and environmental assessments of the entire supply chain of all bioenergy carrier pathways.

Energy carriers such as pyrolysis oil with low oxygen content produced from CP are likely to eliminate Europe's dependence on crude oil. BIOBOOST is developing methods that will handle production of 50 million tonnes per year of biomass residue and agricultural, municipal and industrial waste.

Compared to conventional technologies, HC can handle nearly all kinds of biowaste without pre-treatment. These include not only residues and waste with high water content from food production or sewage treatment, but also weed-infested garden waste or citrus fruit peels.

The project achieved significant progress in optimising processes and partners produced the targeted intermediate energy carriers. The carriers were analysed with regard to parameters of interest for targeted applications such as combustion. First combustion tests of two products have been conducted.

In parallel, partners developed a simulation model to study the logistics, transport, handling and storage of each feedstock type with respect to applicability and cost effectiveness. They considered important factors such as hot spots in Europe with high nearby feedstock potential for greater efficiency.

BIOBOOST has paved the way towards decentralised biomass conversion for use in large-scale applications such as transportation fuels and chemicals as well as small-scale combined heat and power plants.